FDR’s Legacy Lecture 5

Standard 11.6.5 Trace the advances and retreats of organized labor, and the creation of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization to current issues of the post-industrial and multinational economy. Essential Question: What were the long term effects of FDR’s Presidency?

Controversies Court Packing, 1937 several New Deal programs were thrown out by the Supreme Court FDR wanted to appoint six new judges so they would support him public opinion turned against him and he dropped the idea FDR will eventually appoint 8 justices due to retirements and old age

Farewell to Laissez-Faire Government Regulation of the Economy laissez-faire was gone forever the government today regulates or influences almost every aspect of the economy interest rates, money supply, business mergers, FDR’s supporters said he saved capitalism from itself

Welfare State Welfare State Deficit Spending a government that is responsible for the welfare of the children, the elderly, the disabled, and the poor since the New Deal, the US has debated not whether the government should help but how Deficit Spending under FDR the government spent more than it had which created a national debt

FDR and the Presidency FDR Increased the Power of Presidency was elected 4 times ending the two-term tradition the 22nd amendment made two terms the limit used the media to get support for his ideas took control of the economy created many new programs run by the bureaucracy which worked for the President Social Security, SEC, WPA raised expectations of the presidency

New Donkeys New Deal Coalition FDR built a powerful new democratic party Democrats dominated Congress from 1932 – 1995 Democrats won 6 of the next 8 presidential elections Blue-collar northerners, southern whites, Midwest farmers, immigrants, and African Americans

Unemployment Lingering Problems federal deficit grew from $451 million in 1932 to $4.4 billion in 1936 unemployment dropped from 1933 – 1937 but went back up in 1938 by 10%

Leave a Legacy FDR’s Legacy considered to be in the top 2-3 presidents he defeated the Great Depression and the NAZIs changed the size of government from small to big changed the idea of the purpose of government